Bicycle



(No Model.)

L. A. HILL.

BICYCLE.

No. 407,930. Patented July 30, 1889.

ATTORNEYS.

rx. PEYEHS. Phaxo-Lilhngnphor, wnhngxon, D; C.

` UNiTEnV STATES ATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS A. HILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,930, dated July 30, 1889.

Application filed December ll, 1888. Serial No. 293,261. (No model.)

Bicycles. and other Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Myinvcntion relates to spring-forks adapted to be used in connection with the wheels of a bicycle or similar machine, and has for its object to provide a means whereby the jolting motion of the wheels when passing over obstructions or rough ground will not be communicated to the rider or to the steering arms or handles.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specilication, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding` parts in all the tigures.

Figure l is a side elevation of a bicycle having my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the fork, and Figs. 3 and 4c are side elevations of the same.

' It is the prime object of the present invention to render the steering-handles of Vthe bicycle or similar machine steady and free from the jolting motion usually communicated thereto from the steering-wheel, and thereby enable the rider to more effectually and conveniently control the machine.

` To that end each member of the fork A, in which the steering-wheel B is journaled, is made to terminate in a shoe a, the toe whereof usually projects forwardly and at a slight inclination downward, as best shown in Fig. 3, and the heel b is made to extend a slight distance in the direction of the rear. At the extremity of the toe of each shoe a one end of a base plate or block D is hinged in any approved manner, which plate or block extends horizontally beneath the said shoe rearward,

terminating practically in vertical alignment with the heel of the latter. A spring` E- preferably coil or spiral--is interposed between the contiguous surface of the shoe a and the base block or plate at the rear, one end of the said spring being attached in any approved manner to the heel b and the other end to the rear extremity of the block or plate D. An arm H is projected downward from the under tace ot' the blocks or plates D at or near the center, the end of which arm is provided with suitable bearings for the recep tion of the wheel-axle. Ordinarily the hinge in the fork attachment is placed to the front, as shown in Figs. l and 3; but the position may be reversed, as seen in Fig. 4, if desired, and the members of the fork maybe straight, or inclined in the direction of the front or rear, as required by the Various styles of machine.

It will be observed that although the spring is interposed between the wheel and the handles controlling the joint in the fork the spring-connection is rigid laterally.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lett-ers Patent, is-

l. In a bicycle-fork, the combination of the fork A, provided with the inclined shoes o., the base-plates D, hinged to the shoes a and provided with the downwardly projecting bearing-arms H, and the spring interposed between the shoes and base-plates, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a bicycle or similar machine, the combination, with a wheel-fork having its members terminating in a downwardly-inclined shoe projecting outward therefrom, of a base block or plate adapted for connection. with the wheel-axle, hinged to one end ot said shoe, and a spring uniting the opposite ends of the said shoe and plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

LOUIS A. HILL.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL BATTERSBY, BRECK D. PORTER. 

